Valve adjuster



Jan. .26 192s. 1,570,700

R. N. MURAKAMI VALVE ADJUSTER Filed Feb. 15. 1924' 2 e 26 f'7-Z y- M/EA/T JTTO/f/VE/ Patented Jan. 26, 1926.

outrun STAT-ES PATENT orrlca.

BIN N. MURAKAMI, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR T0 HARRY W. BOLENS, OF IPOBT WASHINGTON, WISCONSINL VALVE Application filed. February 1 0 all 107mm it may concern Be it known that I, RIN N. MURAKAMI, a subject of the Emperor of Japan, residing at Milwaukee. in the county of Milwaukee and State of lVisconsin, have invented a certain new and useful Valve Adjuster, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates in general to iinprovements in the art of manufacturing control apparatus for the motors of automobiles, and relates more specifically to improvements in the construction and operation of remote control devices for manipulating the carburetor needle valves of hydrocarbon engines or the like.

A general object of the invention is to provide improved valve manipulating mechanism which'is simple in construction and efiicient in operation.

Some of the more specific objects of the invention are as follows FirstTo provide a needle valve adjuster which may be readily applied as an accessory to the carburetor of any of the numerous low priced pleasure automobiles and trucks, now 'in existence and commonl known as the universal car.

SecondTo provide a carburetor needle valve adjusting device which may be manufactured and sold at minimum cost, and practically all elements of which may be constructed in quantity with the aid of dies alone.

ThirdTo provide a simple and compact remote control mechanism for carburetor needle valves, which may be conveniently installed and manipulated to produce operation of the motors at maximum efliciency.

Fourth-To provide a rotary motion transmitting structure comprising standard rod sections and sheet metal elements connecting the sections and supporting the structure.

Fiftl1To provide various improvements in the details of construction, assemblage and operation of carburetor needle valve adjusters, which will generally improve the operation and reduce to a minimum the cost of such appliances.

A clear conception of the details of construction and operation of an embodiment of the present invention may be had by referring to the drawing accompanying and. forming part of this speclficatlon m which ADJUSTER.

15, 1924. Serial No. 693,051.

like reference characters designate the same or similar parts in the various views.

F ig. 1 is an elevation of an improved carburetor needle valve adjuster showing the same applied to a fragment of an automobile.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the dash board of an automobile showing details ofthe improved needle valve adjuster.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary side view of the elements disclosed in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation of the improved supporting bracket and motion transmit-ting connection of the needle valve adjuster.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of a sheet metal punched blank from which the improved supporting bracket may be formed.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of one of the punched motion transmitting sprockets.

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of one of the finished motion transmitting stub shafts employed in the improved mechanism.

Fig. 8 is an end view of the stub shaft disclosed in elevation in Fig. 7.

Referring specifically to Figs. 1, 2 and 8, the type of automobile to which the improved needle valve adjuster is especially applicable, comprises in general a four cylinder hydro-carbon internal combustion engine located in advance of the vehicle body, the drivers compartment being separated from the motor compartment by means of a vertical partition or wall. 16 having an aperture 17 therein. The carburetor 20 of the motor is located at one side thereof and is provided with a vertically adjustable needle valve 19 adapted to regulate the amount of hydro-carbon fuel admitted to the mixing chamber of the carburetor through a feed.

orifice which connects the float chamber with the mixing chamber, in a well known manner.' In these automobiles as furnishedby the manufacturer, the'mixing valve 19 is manipulablc from within the drivers compartment by means of a single rod the lower end of which is provided with bifurcations or prongs 18 fitting in holes in the needle valve actuating flange, and the upper end of which extends a slight distance through the aperture 17 in the wall 16, the rod being disposed at an angle of about 60 degrees relatively to the horizontal. The instrument or dash board 13 having an instrument panel 15 secured thereto by means of clamping screws 21, is located in the drivers compartment directly in front of the drivers seat, and some distance in back of the partition 16, thereby making it extremely difficult to accurately adjust the needle valve 19 with the crude manipulating mechanism furnished by the manufacturer of these cars.

The improved needle valve adjusting mechanism comprises in general an upper n'ianipulating rod 2 having a manipulating knob or plate 12 attached to its rear upper extremity; an upper element or stub shaft 7 rigidly attached to the forward lower extremity of the rod 2 by means of a clamp 9; a lower upright element or stub shaft- 8 having its upper extremity rotatably associated with the adjacent extremity of the shaft 7 by means of toothed members or sprockets 1-, 5 having intermeshing teeth; a lower upright motion transmitting connection 3 having its upper extremity rigidly connected to the lower end of the shaft 8 by means of a clamp 10 and having its lower extremity provided with prongs 18 associated with the carburetor needle valve 19; and brackets 6, 1 1 supporting the motion transmitting elements in proper position. The upper manipulating rod 2 is constructed of standard wire cut into suitable length so as to reach from the rear end of the upper stub shaft 7 to a point at the rear of the dash board 13. The manipulating knob or plate 12 is preferably formed of irregular keystone shape as shown in Fig. 2 in order to permit an operator to readily determine to what extent the adjustment has been car ried, and is punched from sheet metal of suitable thickness being subsequentl riveted to the end of the rod 2. The upper and lower stub shafts 7, S are also preferably formed of standard wire cut to suitable length and have their adjacent ends distorted with the aid of punches to form fins 26 and upset irregular end portions as clearly shown in Figs st, 7 and 8. The shafts T, 8 are identical in structure thus making them interchangeable, and a sprocket 4, 5 is riveted as shown at 30, or otherwise rigidly attached to the end portion 25 of each of the shafts 7, 8. The sprockets at, 5 are identical in structure being formed of sheet metal of suitable thickness and quality with the aid of dies, the elongated irregular central apertures 24: of the sprockets being formed simultaneously with the teeth. The clamps 9, 10 may likewise be formed of sheet metal and identical in structure with the aid of dies, and are locked in position by means of standard clamping screws 27.

The lower connection 3 is ordinarily furnished with the car but must be reduced in length in order to cooperate with the improvedadjuster comprising the present 1111- prominent. The rod 2, shafts 7, 8, and the connection 3, when assembled as shown in Fig. 1 are held in proper relation to each other by means of the single floating bracket 6 which is formed of a single sheet metal blank constructed as shown in Fig. 5. The sheet metal blank is punched with oval apertures 22 at the ends and with medial circu lar apertures 23 as shown, and is subsequently bent into approximately the shape shown in Fig. 1, by means of a punch. \Vhen the stub shafts 7, 8 have been inserted and the sprocket teeth are brought in proper position, the bracket 6 is bent into its final shape, the apertures 22, 23 forming independent spaced bearings for each of the shafts 7, 8. The bracket 1% is also punched from sheet metal and is held in place upon the dash board 13 by means of the same clamping screws 21 which are furnished by the manufacturer of the car to hold the instrument panel 15 in place. The instrument panel 15 is provided witlra switch 28 and an ammeter 29 and is furnished with every automobile of the type to which the present improvement is especially applicable. The bracket 14: provides a rear bearing for the rod 2 and this rod is fixed against rearward end displacement by means of an elastic bushing 11 positioned adjacent to the aperture 17 in the partition 16 as shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

Vhen furnished as an accessory adapted for application to standard existing automobiles, the improved needle valve adjuster consists of the rod 2 with the plate 12 and the bushing 11 attached; the bearing plate 1 1; the stub shafts T, 8 and sprockets 5, -1- mounted in the bracket 6; andthe two clamps 9 10 with their clamping screws 27. In order to apply the device to a car, the adjuster which is furnished by the manufacturer must first be removed and trans formed into a connection 3 which may then be rigidly attached to the free end of one of the stub shafts 7, 8 by means of a clamp 9, 10. Upon removal of the panel clamping screws 21, the bracket 14- may be readily inserted and fixed in position as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and The bushing 11 may then be removed and the rod 2 inserted through the opening in the bracket 14- and'through the aperture 17 in the partition 16, where upon the bushing 11 may be positioned upon the rod 2 as indicated in Figs. 1 and The rod 2 is then fixed against cndwise displacement in either direction by the plate 12 and bushing 11, but is freely rotatable. After inserting the prongs 18 of the connection 3 in the openings in the needle valve flange, the stub shaft 7 may be rigidly connected to the lower end of the rod 2 by means of a clamp 9. This completes the installation of the device.

After installation, it will be obvious that by turi'iing the manipulating plate in one through the rod 2 directly to the stub shaft I 7, from the stub shaft 7 to the stub shaft 8 through the inter-meshing sprockets 4t, 5 and from the stub shaft 8 directly through the connection 3 to the needle valve. The plate 12, bushing 11, bracket 14, partition 16, bracket 6 and needle valve 19 cooperate to retain the adjusting device in proper position without necessitating provision of brackets which require special attachment to the vehicle structure. The bracket (3 by providing a plurality of independent bearings for each of the stub shafts 7, S, effectively retains these shafts and the sprockets .4, 5 in proper relative position, and the device permits extremely sensitive and convenient adjustment of the valve 19 from 'ithin the drivers compartment of the automobile.

The plates 12, brackets 14, clamps 9, 10, brackets 6 and sprockets 4t, 5 may all be manufactured of sheet metal with the aid of dies, thereby permitting construction of these elements at minimum cost. The rods Qand the shafts 7, 8 may be formed of standard wire and the bushings 11 may be made of rubber tubing. The ends of the shafts 7 8 may be distorted to the shape indicated in Figs. 7 and 8 by means of a punch press and the fins 26 serve to properly space the sprockets t, 5 from the bracket 6. By forming the various elements with dies and punches, quantity production is facilitated and like elements are assuredly interchangeable.

It should be understood that it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact de tail of construction and operation herein shown and described for various modifications within the scope of the claims may occur to persons skilled in the art.

It is claimed and desired to secure by Letters Patent v 1. A needle valve adjuster comprising, a pair of movable rod-like elements, a motion transmitting connection between said elements, and a sheet metal bracket coacting with said elements adjacent to said connection, said bracket being supported entirely by said elements.

2. A needle valve adjuster comprising, a pair of movable rod-like elements, a motion transmitting connection between said elements, and a bracket coacting with said elements adjacent to said connection, said bracket being formed of a single sheet of material and providing a pluralityof inclependent bearings for each of said elements.

:3. A needle valve adjuster comprising, a pair of movable rod-like elements, a motieu transmitting connection between said elements, and a bracket coacting with said ele ments adjacent to said connection, said bracket being supported entirely by said elements and providing a plurality of independent bearings for each of said elements.

4. A needle valve adjuster comprising, a pair of rotary rod-like elements having their axes disposed at an angle, a motion trans mitting connection between adjacent ends of said elements, and a sheet metal bracket. supported entirely by said elements and coacting therewith adjacent to said connection.

5. A needle valve adjuster comprising, a pair of rotary rod-like elements having in tersecting axes, a motion transmitting con nection between said elements, and a bracket providing a plurality of independent bearings for each of said elements adjacent to said connection.

6. A needlevalve adjuster comprising, a pair of rotary rod-like elements having relatively inclined axes, intermeshing toothed members connecting the adjacent ends of said members, and a single sheet metal bracket connecting said elements closely adjacent to said members.

7 A needle valve adjuster comprising, a

pair of rotary stub shafts having relatively inclined axes, intermeshing sheet metal sprockets connecting the adjacent ends of said shafts, and a single sheet metal bracket connecting said shafts closely adjacent to said sprockets.

8. A needle valve adjuster comprising, apair of identical stub shafts having relatively inclined axes, a sheet metal toothed member rigidly attached to an end of each of said shafts, and a sheet metal bracket maintaining said shafts inproper relative position with the teeth of said members intermeshing.

9. A needle valve adjuster comprising, a manipulating rod, a stub shaft rigidly connected to said rod, a toothed member secured to the end of said shaft, a second toothed member meshing with said first mentioned member, a second stub shaft secured to said second toothed member, and a floating sheet metal bracket connecting said stub shafts adjacent to said members.

10. A needle valve adjuster comprising, aninclined rod, a stub shaft coaxially rigidly attached to said rod, a toothed member secured to the lower end of said shaft, a second toothed member meshing with said first mentioned member, a vertical stub shaft secured to said second toothed member, and a sheet metal bracket providing a plurality of bearings for each of said shafts.

11. A needle valve adjuster comprising, an inclined rod having means for positively preventing endwise displacement thereof while permitting rotation, a stub shaft .00

axially detachably associated with an end of said rod, a toothed sprocket secured to the lower end of said shaft, a second toothed sprocket meshing with said first mentioned sarocket, a vertical stub shaft secured to said second sprocket, and a single sheet metal bracket providing at least two bearings for each of said shafts.

12. A needle valve adjuster comprising, an inclined rod-like element having a manipulating plate at its upper extremity and an adjustable bushing intern'iediate its ends, means cooperable with said plate and bushing to prevent endwise displacement of said element, a vertical rod-like element associable with the needle valve, a motion transmitting connection between said elements, and a floating bracket connecting said elements adjacent to said connection.

13. A needle valve adjuster comprising, rod-like elements disposed at an angle to each other, one of said elements having means for preventing endwise displacement thereof and the other of said elements being associated directly with the needle valve, a rotary motion transmitting connection be tween said elements, and a floating bracket connecting said elements adjacent to said connection.

1%. A needle valve adjuster comprising, two identical stub shafts having laterally widened adjacent ends, a sheet metal sprocket attached to the extreme end of each of said stub shafts, and a floating bracket providing a bearing for each of said shafts adjacent to the widened end thereof and maintaining said sprockets in mesh.

15. A needle valve adjuster-comprising,

two identical stub shafts having lateral fins and sprockets secured thereto adjacent to said fins, and a sheet metal bracket coacting with both of said shafts adjacent to said tins and serving to maintain the teeth of said sprockets in mesh.

As an article of manufacture, a needle valve adjuster bracket formed of a strip of sheet metal having four bearing apertures therein.

17. As an article of manufacture, a floating bracket for needle valve adjuster rods comprising a strip of sheet metal having two oval end apertures and two circular medial apertures therein.

18. its an article of manufacture, a needle valve adjuster supporting bracket co1npris ing a perforated sheet metal strip bent into substantially M shape.

19. As an article of manufacture, a needle valve adjuster con'iprising a bracket formed of a single perforated strip of sheet metal bent into substantially M shape, and a pair of relatively inclined end connected shafts supported in the perforations of said bracket.

20. As an article of manufacture, a needle valve adjuster comprising a floating bracket formed of a single perforated strip of sheet metal bent into substantially M shape, a pair of relatively inclined identical stub shafts supported in the perforations of said bracket, and a pair of identical sheet metal sprockets secured to said shafts and having intermeshing teeth.

In testimony whereof, the signature of the inventor is affixed hereto.

BIN N. MURAKAl/H. 

